Why snack when you can snack board? Meet the trendy food presentation idea that's less fussy than a charcuterie board and a lot more fun. Bring your creativity, taste buds, and a sense of adventure — there's a blank board waiting to be filled.
What Is a Snack Board?
A snack board is a large platter or other spacious vessel piled high with bite-sized morsels representing all your favorite food groups. It can be as simple and streamlined or complex and layered as you like. Stick to four or five snacks on a small cutting board, or take up an artfully draped folding table with heaps of store-bought and homemade items.
A snack charcuterie board might be a more classic interpretation of meats and cheeses with a few crackers and condiments on the side. But with a snack board, you can go way beyond Manchego and salumi. Stack your board high with dips, crostini, pickled green beans, dried fruit, spiced nuts, packaged fruit snacks, and almost anything else you can think of.
When Can You Use a Snack Board?
Because it's so easy to customize your snack board, you can make a simple one as an afternoon snack or build a huge one for a birthday party or a wedding. They're perfect for cocktail parties, game nights, family reunions, after-school snacks, beach trips (just build them on a tray with a fitted lid), or a picnic spread in your hotel room.
Key Must-Have Elements for a Balanced Snack Board
A balanced snack board hits all five tastes: salty, sweet, sour, bitter, and umami. But you should also be mindful of satisfying everyone's sensory cravings and nutritional needs. That means including crunchy elements, protein-packed snacks, and specialty items as needed. Save time and money by looking for snacks that go the extra mile by ticking more than one box — candied nuts or pickled mushrooms, for example.
Salty
Start building your board by gathering your favorite salty treats. Olives are rich in healthy fats and provide an unctuous and salty pop. Try homemade trail mix or buy curated mixes that contain probiotics and premium ingredients.
Sweet
Sweet items can be dessert-oriented, such as cookies and little squares of dark chocolate. But you can also represent sweet with energy-rich options, such as a honeycomb crumble and dried or fresh fruit.
Sour
Sour foods perk up your taste buds and provide a delectable counterpoint to salt and sweet snacks. Pickled vegetables (cornichons are a popular option), tart Granny Smith apple slices, vinegar-based chutneys, mustard, and grapefruit segments are all solid choices.
Bitter
Roasted nuts get a hint of bitterness from the slight char they get when tossed in a piping hot pan. The same goes for grilled vegetables. Many immune-boosting leafy greens are also bitter — you could make a quick kale pesto or build your board around a lightly dressed arugula salad.
Umami
Umami foods have a rich, earthy, and intensely savory flavor profile. Little wedges of parmesan cheese, salty olives, sundried tomatoes, mushrooms, roasted garlic, and kimchi are all brimming with umami.
Personalized Touches
This is where you take customization even further by tailoring your snack board to align with allergies and other dietary concerns. You might include keto-friendly snacks infused with probiotics or stick to gluten-free crackers for your guest with celiac disease. You can skip nuts for someone who's allergic and try out close alternatives, such as sunflower and pumpkin seeds or crispy chickpeas, instead.
Other Considerations for Your Snack Board
As you start shopping for and building your board, keep these expert tips in mind:
- Use ramekins to contain nuts, seeds, trail mix, dips, and other smaller items. Pickled items look adorable and inviting tucked into small upcycled jam jars.
- For get-togethers where guests might wander while they snack, pre-portion dry snacks, such as trail mix, into kraft paper cones or baggies.
- Lay out tongs, cheese knives, and other utensils for convenience (and to keep guests' hands out of the goodies).
- Garnish with edible flowers, herb sprigs, honeycomb, and whole berries for the perfect final touch.
Themes and Pairings: Creative Snack Board Ideas for Your Next Event
Random snack boards are still delicious, but a themed board can help bring your party to the next level. Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Movie night: Stock up on air-popped popcorn, pretzels, trail mix, and other snacks that are universally movie-ready. Or pick snacks that align with the movie's theme, such as Italian meats and cheeses for The Godfather or sushi for Jaws.
- Backyard BBQ: Keep guests happy while the burgers grill with a snack board full of fresh seasonal fruit, summer veggies, and dips. Add grilled sausage and kebabs to the snack board for a complete meal.
- Brunch: Make a brunch-themed snack board with fresh fruit, infused syrups, yogurt dips, nut butters, and mini waffles or pancakes.
- At-home glamping: Enjoy the great outdoors and modern amenities with a backyard camping trip. Keep your snack board on theme with trail mix, apple chips, and anything you can roast over a fire.
- Holidays: Holiday snack boards are arguably the most fun. Create a Christmas tree with strips of meat, cheese, and sliced star fruit over a bed of greens. Celebrate Independence Day with all red, white, and blue snacks, such as fresh berries, yogurt-covered pretzels, mini mozzarella balls, and salami rollups.
As for pairing ideas, it's always fun to offer a beverage that ties in with your snack board and overarching theme. Make your own signature mocktail, such as a seasonal lemonade for your BBQ or fresh fruit purees with sparkling water and mint for brunch.
Build a smarter snack board with curated trail mix, fruit snacks, and other balanced options from Nature's Garden. Shop our full catalog and treat your guests to snacks with a purpose.
